Mauresmo upsets sorry Hingis

Martina Hingis, still seeking her first title since parting with her mother Melanie Molitor as coach, must wrestle for longer with the doubts brought about by so profound a change, after failing for the third time since the split.

The 20-year-old lost 6-3 0-6 6-4 to Amélie Mauresmo in the semi-finals of the German Open here, paying a high price for the loss of control in the second set which inex plicably afflicted her. It allowed Mauresmo, whose muscular shoulders Hingis cattily commented on a couple of years ago, opportunities to unleash the sort of powerful hitting to which the world No 1 has often been vulnerable.

It also brought an edge to the contest, and the momentum subsequently generated by the French player disconcerted Hingis enough to take a long toilet break before the final set. This provided a fierce test of Hingis's newly claimed independence. For a while she reacted with a fatalistic look, but in the sixth game decided upon trying to retake the initiative, only to over-hit and drop serve. Finally, she reverted to attempting a deep and steady length only for her serve to be exposed as Mauresmo attacked off every ball.

The result was revenge for a defeat in the Family Circle Cup in Charleston last month when Hingis ended Mauresmo's 16-match winning streak.

Jennifer Capriati will be Mauresmo's opponent. The Aussie Open champion - whose father, Stefano, had a presence as conspicuous courtside as Melanie Molitor's absence - progressed unsatisfactorily against Justine Henin.

The score was 6-2 4-6, with Capriati 2-1 ahead in the decider, when the Belgian tumbled going for a wide forehand. Seven minutes' treatment to a sprained ankle brought only three more rallies before retirement.